Rachel Hurd-Wood is a British actress best known for playing Wendy Darling in Peter Pan (2003), a role that brought her international attention when she was just 13. Since then, she has built a varied screen career spanning fantasy, horror, period drama, independent films, and television. Her notable credits include An American Haunting, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Dorian Gray, Tomorrow, When the War Began, and The First Omen. 

For readers following rachel hurd, her career is particularly interesting because she moved beyond her famous child-star debut and took on increasingly mature and varied roles. Born in London in 1990, Hurd-Wood developed an acting career while also pursuing education and maintaining a relatively private personal life.

Who Is Rachel Hurd-Wood?

Rachel Clare Hurd-Wood was born on 17 August 1990 in Streatham, London, England. She grew up in Surrey and entered professional acting at a young age after auditioning for the role of Wendy Darling in Peter Pan.

Unlike many established young performers, she had very limited professional acting experience before landing the role. Her grandparents reportedly noticed an advertisement seeking a young English actress for the film and alerted her family, leading to her audition. 

That opportunity changed the direction of her life. Peter Pan, directed by P.J. Hogan and released in 2003, became her breakthrough film and introduced her to audiences around the world.

How Did Rachel Hurd-Wood Get Her Start in Acting?

Hurd-Wood's professional acting career began with Peter Pan.

She was around 12 when she was selected to play Wendy Darling, with filming taking place in Australia. The production required her to balance schoolwork with the demands of a major international film. 

Her performance attracted recognition, including nominations for the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor and the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film.

The success of Peter Pan established her as a young British screen talent, but her later career showed that she was not interested in remaining associated with one type of character.

What Is Rachel Hurd-Wood Best Known For?

Her most recognizable role remains Wendy Darling in Peter Pan (2003).

The film offered Hurd-Wood a high-profile introduction to mainstream cinema and remains the project most closely associated with her name.

However, her subsequent filmography became considerably darker and more diverse.

She appeared in An American Haunting (2005), a supernatural horror film, followed by Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), where she played Laura Richis.

She later appeared in Solomon Kane and Dorian Gray, both released in 2009, before taking on the role of Corrie Mackenzie in Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010). 

Rachel Hurd-Wood’s Major Movies

Hurd-Wood's film career includes a mix of mainstream and independent productions.

Peter Pan (2003)

As Wendy Darling, Hurd-Wood became internationally recognized at a young age.

An American Haunting (2005)

She moved into darker material with this supernatural horror film, playing Betsy Bell.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

She appeared as Laura Richis in the adaptation of Patrick Süskind's novel, working alongside an established international cast.

Dorian Gray (2009)

Hurd-Wood took on the role of Sibyl Vane in the adaptation of Oscar Wilde's classic novel.

Solomon Kane (2009)

The fantasy-action film gave her another opportunity to work in a period setting.

Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010)

She played Corrie Mackenzie in the Australian action-adventure film based on John Marsden's novel. 

The First Omen (2024)

One of her more recent credited film appearances was in the horror film The First Omen, released in 2024, where she played Katherine Thorn. 

What Television Shows Has Rachel Hurd-Wood Appeared In?

Hurd-Wood has also worked in television.

Her credits include the BBC adaptation of The Moonstone in 2016 and the British series Clique, in which she played Rachel Maddox from 2017 to 2018. 

Her television work demonstrates how her career gradually moved away from the fantasy-adventure image associated with Peter Pan.

Rather than relying solely on blockbuster films, she explored character-driven television and smaller productions.

Did Rachel Hurd-Wood Study at University?

Yes.

Hurd-Wood studied linguistics at University College London during the period when she was developing her acting career. Her education was part of a broader interest in subjects beyond entertainment.

Earlier interviews also indicated that acting had not originally been her only ambition. She had expressed interest in areas including teaching and speech therapy before her film career became established. 

Her educational interests help explain why her early career was not simply focused on becoming a conventional Hollywood star.

Is Rachel Hurd-Wood Married?

Rachel Hurd-Wood married Scottish actor Russ Bain. Public biographical sources report that they married in 2017 and have two children. 

Hurd-Wood has generally maintained a relatively private approach to her family life.

Unlike celebrities who frequently make their relationships a central part of their public image, she has largely kept her personal life away from the spotlight.

What Has Rachel Hurd-Wood Done Since Peter Pan?

Her career after Peter Pan followed an interesting pattern.

Instead of immediately pursuing similar family-friendly fantasy roles, she moved toward darker and more serious projects.

Her filmography includes:

• Supernatural horror

• Literary adaptations

• Period dramas

• Fantasy

• Action-adventure

• Independent cinema

• British television

This variety helped establish her as more than a former child actor.

Her transition is particularly notable because Peter Pan was such a defining early success.

Did Rachel Hurd-Wood Win Any Awards?

Hurd-Wood has received recognition and nominations during her career.

Her early Peter Pan performance earned nominations including a Saturn Award and a Young Artist Award. She was also recognized at the 2015 Madrid International Film Festival for her work in Highway to Dhampus, according to TV Guide's biographical listing. 

Her career has therefore included both mainstream recognition and work in smaller productions.

What Is Rachel Hurd-Wood Doing Now?

As of 2026, publicly available film and television databases continue to list Hurd-Wood primarily through her established acting credits, with The First Omen (2024) among her most recent notable screen credits. 

There does not appear to be a clearly verified major 2026 film or television project publicly documented by the major sources reviewed for this profile. That distinction matters because entertainment websites sometimes circulate unconfirmed casting information before an official production announcement.

Her current public profile is therefore best understood through her existing body of work rather than speculation about future projects.

Why Is Rachel Hurd-Wood Still Remembered?

Hurd-Wood remains closely associated with Peter Pan because the film introduced her to audiences at such a young age.

But her career is more substantial than that single performance.

From An American Haunting and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer to Dorian Gray, Clique, and The First Omen, she repeatedly moved into different genres and character types. 

Her career also illustrates the challenges and opportunities faced by actors who become famous as children.

Rather than relying exclusively on nostalgia, Hurd-Wood developed a filmography that gradually expanded into darker and more mature material.

What Makes Rachel Hurd-Wood’s Career Interesting?

The most notable aspect of Hurd-Wood's career is the contrast between her breakthrough and the roles that followed.

She became famous through a major fantasy adventure as Wendy Darling, but her later choices frequently involved darker stories, historical settings, psychological themes, and genre productions.

That progression allowed her to establish an identity beyond her childhood role.

More than two decades after Peter Pan, Wendy Darling remains her signature character, but it represents only the beginning of a much broader acting career.

Conclusion

Rachel Hurd-Wood's career began with one of the most recognizable young roles in early-2000s cinema, but her work since then has been considerably more varied. From Peter Pan to An American Haunting, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Dorian Gray, Clique, and The First Omen, she has built a filmography across multiple genres and formats.

Her relatively private personal life and selective screen career have kept much of the focus on her acting rather than celebrity culture. As of 2026, her most recent notable credited screen appearance remains The First Omen from 2024, with no major new 2026 project clearly confirmed by the sources reviewed.

For readers who want to follow more profiles, entertainment stories, and UK celebrity news and updates, Rachel Hurd-Wood's career remains an interesting example of how a childhood breakthrough can develop into a diverse adult acting journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rachel Hurd-Wood best known for?

Rachel Hurd-Wood is best known for playing Wendy Darling in the 2003 film Peter Pan. She was around 13 when the film was released and had been selected for the role after an open audition. 

What movies has Rachel Hurd-Wood appeared in?

Her notable films include Peter Pan, An American Haunting, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Solomon Kane, Dorian Gray, Tomorrow, When the War Began, and The First Omen.

Is Rachel Hurd-Wood married?

Yes. Public biographical sources report that Rachel Hurd-Wood married Scottish actor Russ Bain and that they have two children. 

What is Rachel Hurd-Wood's latest movie?

One of her most recent credited film appearances is The First Omen, released in 2024, in which she played Katherine Thorn. 

Is Rachel Hurd-Wood still acting?

Her acting credits remain part of current film and television databases, but there is no clearly verified major 2026 screen project identified in the sources reviewed. Her latest notable credited film appearance is The First Omen (2024).